Reserve Team Candidates

"What exactly are you two trying to do? Why did you drag me all the way to the Assessment Zone?"

Early in the morning, Chen Yuan had been dragged over by Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi. There were clearly no classes today, and he had wanted to continue cultivating.

"Today is Junior Brother and the others' Freshman Assessment finals. There are no classes, and aren't you helping Teacher Wang record data? You can get into the Assessment Zone, so just take us in to have a look."

"Yeah! Tang Ya even managed to ask Nannan out! Chen Yuan, you can't just forget about your brothers after getting yourself a younger schoolmate!"

As he spoke, Xu Sanshi actually hugged Chen Yuan's thigh. It seemed that if Chen Yuan did not agree, he would never get up.

Feeling the strange looks from the people passing by, Chen Yuan felt that if he did not agree soon, his reputation would be ruined today.

"Fine! Fine! I'll take you in."

"Thanks."

"Great! Nannan! Here I come!"

Xu Sanshi jumped three feet into the air when he saw Chen Yuan agree.

"By the way, Chen Yuan, did you go watch Junior Brother and the others fight those two junior girls from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect a few days ago?"

"No. Ever since my breakthrough last time, I've been cultivating nonstop these past few days."

"You don't mean you haven't left your dorm except to eat these past few days, do you?"

"That's right."

Bei Bei helplessly rubbed his forehead. Why did everyone around him seem a little crazy?

For some reason, after returning from vacation, Xu Sanshi had become obsessed with Jiang Nannan, a year below him. He had long since become a peculiar sight in the Outer Court.

As for Chen Yuan, he was simply a tireless cultivation machine. To this day, Bei Bei had never seen a single day when Chen Yuan did not cultivate.

Compared to them, Bei Bei felt like he was actually pretty normal.

At most, he just spent a little too much time with Tang Ya.

"Forget it. Since this is the finals, whether Junior Brother and the others win or lose, we can still be of some use."

"Who do you think will win this year's Freshman Assessment?"

"Dai Huabin."

Chen Yuan gave his answer without the slightest hesitation.

"Dai Huabin's team has one Soul Elder and two Soul Grandmasters. Xiao Xiao's team has two Soul Grandmasters and one Soul Master."

"According to some rumors, one of the two girls in Dai Huabin's group has the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul. With the Hell Spirit Cat and the White Tiger together, I don't need to remind you what that means, do I?"

"You mean... a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"

Chen Yuan nodded, and Bei Bei's expression rarely turned serious.

"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill released by a Soul Elder and a Soul Grandmaster really isn't something Junior Brother and the others can handle."

Bei Bei dearly hoped Huo Yuhao could win this Freshman Assessment. That way, perhaps he could gain the academy's attention and become a Core Disciple.

He knew the possibility was minuscule. That one ten-year Soul Ring alone would make Shrek Academy give up on nurturing Huo Yuhao.

But hope was hope. Bei Bei did not think Huo Yuhao had any chance of defeating Dai Huabin.

Chen Yuan also intended to watch closely. If Huo Yuhao got worked up and pulled out the White Tiger Dagger to trade his life for Dai Huabin's, then his foresight would crumble without even a trace left.

He still needed to keep Huo Yuhao steady.

Though Chen Yuan could not think of any way for the current Huo Yuhao to defeat Dai Huabin.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er were only friends now and had never experimented with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Without one, there was no way they could defeat the Hell White Tiger at this stage.

Right, it seemed Huo Yuhao had not joined the Soul Tool Department yet.

Chen Yuan wondered whether Qian Duoduo would come to this Freshman Assessment final and whether he would recruit Huo Yuhao into the Soul Tool Department.

On the elevated platform of the Freshman Assessment Zone, they could clearly see the finals arena below.

The area below was already packed with people. After this match, the list of Core Disciples would be announced, so naturally all the students had come.

Chen Yuan and the other two were currently standing nervously in a corner of the platform. Their eyes darted around, and none of them wanted to meet the gazes of the people nearby.

A few seconds ago, they had just found a good spot below, only to inexplicably appear here.

After Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi vanished, Jiang Nannan simply stayed below and quietly watched the match, while Tang Ya had already gone over to Huo Yuhao to cheer him on.

At the same time, after hearing that Tang Ya was the current master of the Tang Sect, Wang Dong'er immediately expressed her desire to join the Tang Sect, greatly surprising Tang Ya.

There were only a handful of people left in the Tang Sect now, yet a genius like Wang Dong'er was actually volunteering to join.

Tang Ya immediately said that as long as Wang Dong'er won this final, she would be allowed to join the Tang Sect at once.

Then she looked expectantly at Xiao Xiao. However, Xiao Xiao merely turned her face away and ignored Tang Ya's gaze.

Chen Yuan had told her before that joining a sect was something that had to be considered carefully. She had to examine all aspects of the sect before making a decision.

Therefore, Xiao Xiao did not plan to join the Tang Sect for now.

"You three little fellows, why aren't you cultivating properly? What are you doing here?"

"Also, senior students shouldn't have been able to enter the Assessment Zone during this period."

Yan Shaozhe sat in his chair and took a sip of fragrant tea, teasing the three before him whose eyes kept shifting away.

There was still some time before the match began, and he had nothing to do. He just happened to spot three people he knew well.

So Yan Shaozhe brought the three over in front of him for a pleasant chat.

"Dean Yan, aren't there no classes today? Cultivating every day is exhausting, so we wanted to come watch the Freshman Assessment finals."

"Chen Yuan happened to be helping out here these past two days and had a pass, so we came in."

Chen Yuan's eyes widened, his face filled with grief and indignation.

Bei Bei, you sold me out just like that? Can we still have fun together?

Bei Bei gave Chen Yuan an expression that said, Trust me, everything is under control.

As a Level 95 Title Douluo, Yan Shaozhe naturally saw the small exchange between Chen Yuan and Bei Bei clearly.

He did not say anything more.

The three before him were all predetermined members of the next generation of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Bei Bei was Mu En's great-grandson and could be considered a child Yan Shaozhe had watched grow up.

Xu Sanshi had always helped Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire. Whether out of personal feelings or principle, Yan Shaozhe, as her teacher, should not make things difficult for him.

As for Chen Yuan, he had recently delivered a Twin Martial Souls student to the Martial Soul Department, and he was usually very well-behaved. Naturally, there was no need to say much to him either.

Besides, they were only here to watch the Freshman Assessment. Perhaps they might even find future teammates.

No matter what, Chen Yuan and the other two were irreplaceable for this year's Reserve Team, the next generation of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Otherwise, what would happen to all the resources the academy had invested in advance?

Yan Shaozhe intended to let this year's Second Grade students participate in the Reserve Team Selection as well.

Twin Martial Souls Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong'er from the Clear Sky Sect with her two thousand-year Soul Rings, Ning Tian of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, an eleven-year-old support-type Soul Elder—these were all excellent prospects.

In addition, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, who possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, as well as Cao Jinxuan with his time-attribute Martial Soul, were all qualified to participate in the Reserve Team Selection.

In Yan Shaozhe's view, the overall quality of this batch of freshmen was the best in nearly a hundred years. If they missed the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, it would truly be a regret.

Most current second- and third-year Core Disciples had no competitive edge at all before these freshmen.

"Forget it. Since you're here, stay. Occasionally experiencing these freshmen's vigorous spirit firsthand will also benefit your cultivation."

"Besides, there may be your future teammates among these freshmen. Consider it getting to know them in advance."

"Dean Yan, are you planning to let this year's freshman Core Disciples participate in next year's Reserve Team Selection?"

"Huh? Chen Yuan, what did you say? Doesn't the Reserve Team Selection usually only allow Third Grade to fifth grade students to participate? Right, Bei Bei?"

Xu Sanshi cried out in surprise. If these freshmen were really allowed to join the Reserve Team, then next year the oldest among them would only be thirteen. Five years later, the oldest would be eighteen, while the youngest would be around seventeen.

The age limit for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament was twenty and under. Usually, teams tried to get as close to that age as possible in order to gain a greater advantage.

That was why the Shrek Reserve Team Selection restricted participation to Third Grade students and above. There had never been a precedent for Second Grade students participating.